Lisle, Illinois~ The National Weather Service (NWS) relies on a number of devices to detect severe thunderstorms, including radar, satellite and lightning detection networks. But the most important tool for observing severe weather is a trained weather spotter.

Benedictine University will host a NWS Basic Weather Spotter Class from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4 in the Krasa Center Presentation Room on the University's Lisle campus. The seminar is free and open to the public.

The NWS trains people to identify severe storms and tornadoes and report them via organized communication networks such as local and county emergency management, law enforcement and amateur radio.

Benedictine will also offer a seminar titled "Family Preparedness for All Seasons" from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 17 in the Krasa Center Presentation Room. The seminar, presented by Don Thompsen of the DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, helps families prepare for a variety of natural disasters and home accidents.

RSVP for the Family Preparedness seminar by February 14 or the Weather Spotter seminar by February 28 to Michi Dubes at (630) 829-6364 or by e-mail at mdubes@ben.edu.

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Benedictine University is an independent Roman Catholic institution located in Lisle, Illinois just 25 miles west of Chicago. Founded in 1887, Benedictine provides 53 undergraduate majors, 13 graduate and four doctorate programs. Benedictine University is ranked as a Top School in the Midwest (11th in Illinois) for Master's Universities, 12th in the Midwest (and sixth in Illinois) for Racial Diversity, and eighth in Illinois for Freshmen Retention for 2011 by U.S. News & World Report.